The whole family will love this Caesar pasta salad with chicken that’s made with crisp romaine lettuce, al dente pasta, crunchy croutons, Parmesan cheese, and creamy Caesar dressing. This cold pasta salad is perfect for potlucks, meal prep lunches, and easy family dinners.

Serves 8-10 as a side dish or 4 as a main meal.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 8

Chill Time 7

Total Time 25

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If you love a classic Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, you’re going to love this chicken Caesar pasta salad recipe. It combines whatever chicken you have on hand with al dente pasta, crisp romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, Parmesan cheese, and creamy Caesar dressing for a hearty dish that’s awesome for lunch, dinner, meal prep, or your next potluck.

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Kid-friendly and family-approved.
Meal prep friendly and great for lunch, dinner, or potlucks.
Easy to customize with your favorite proteins.

When you need a meal that works just as well for dinner as it does for lunch the next day, this Caesar pasta salad with chicken checks all the boxes. It is fresh, filling, and easy to customize with ingredients you already have on hand.

My favorite dinner hack is prepping proteins ahead of time to make dinnertime easier. Using pre-cooked chicken helps you get this easy pasta salad on the table fast. That means less time cooking and more time around the table with the people you love.

A bowl of Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad with rotini pasta, grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, croutons, and Parmesan cheese, served on a plate with forks and a pepper grinder in the background.

Ingredients

This is a brief overview of this great recipe. For step-by-step instructions and a full printable recipe card with ingredients, please scroll down to the teal box below.

Pasta: Rotini and penne work beautifully because the grooves hold onto the creamy Caesar dressing. Cook the noodles until they are al dente, so they maintain their texture after chilling.
For potlucks, I love using farfalle pasta. It feels a little more special and always looks pretty in a large bowl on the buffet table.
Crisp Romaine Lettuce: Romaine adds freshness and crunch to this cold pasta salad. Chop it into bite-sized pieces so every forkful includes a little bit of everything. If you plan to make the salad ahead, wait to add the romaine until just before serving.
Chicken: The easiest way to make this salad is with shredded rotisserie chicken for maximum convenience, or Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken. Using precooked chicken makes this an easy and quick weeknight dinner. Grilled chicken is delicious, too.
Crunchy Croutons: Add them just before serving to keep them crisp.
Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan delivers rich, salty flavor. Shaved Parmesan also works well and gives the salad a restaurant-style feel. While you can use pre-grated cheese from the grocery store, it just isn’t quite the same as using fresh!
Black Pepper: Freshly cracked black pepper helps balance the dressing’s richness without masking the other ingredients.

A glass pitcher filled with creamy Caesar salad dressing sits on a table, surrounded by bowls of fresh romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese, croutons, a lemon, and a Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad ready to be enjoyed.

Creamy Caesar Dressing: A good dressing ties all the salad ingredients together. My homemade Creamy Caesar Dressing adds incredible flavor and comes together quickly. Of course, you can also use your favorite store-bought dressing.

Out of something you need? Check out our free ingredient substitutions printable!

Variations

One of the best things about this recipe is how easy it is to switch things up.

Steak Caesar Pasta Salad: Use sliced steak instead of chicken for a heartier option. Leftover Steak Bites with Garlic Butter work especially well.
Salmon Caesar Pasta Salad: Flaked salmon adds healthy fats and a delicious twist on the classic.
Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad: Try it with Garlic Butter Shrimp for a seafood version packed with flavor.
Tuna Caesar Pasta Salad: Canned tuna turns this recipe into a budget-friendly lunch option that comes together in minutes.

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Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Serves 8-10 as a side dish or 4 as a main meal.

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Course: Main Course, Salad

Keyword: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 8

Chill Time: 7

Total Time: 25

Author: Ang Paris

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Ingredients

8 oz. uncooked pasta such as rotini or penne
2 hearts of romaine chopped
2 cups shredded chicken or chopped chicken breasts
1 cup croutons optional
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
black pepper to taste
store-bought or homemade Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing

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Instructions

Cook the pasta following the directions on the package. Rinse, drain, and set aside to cool.
8 oz. uncooked pasta
In a large serving bowl, toss the cooled pasta, chicken, and parmesan cheese together with the dressing. Season with black pepper.
If you are not yet ready to serve the salad, cover and chill in the fridge.
2 cups shredded chicken or chopped chicken breasts, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, store-bought or homemade Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing, black pepper
Just before serving, toss with the prepared romaine lettuce and croutons. Taste and add additional dressing, cheese, or pepper as desired.
1 cup croutons, 2 hearts of romaine

Notes

Ang’s Recipe Tips

Cook the Pasta Properly. Overcooked noodles can become mushy after sitting in the dressing. Cook the pasta until just al dente, then rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.
Wait to Add the Lettuce. Adding romaine too early can make the greens soggy. For the freshest texture, toss it in right before serving.
Keep the Croutons Crisp. No one likes soft croutons. Store them separately and sprinkle them on just before you eat.
Taste Before Serving. Taste the salad and adjust with extra Parmesan or black pepper if needed.

Storage

To Store: Store leftover chicken Caesar pasta salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. (These are my favorite airtight containers.)

Remember, for the best texture, keep the crispy croutons separate and stir them in just before serving. If possible, store the romaine separately as well.

Please Note: I am not a registered dietitian. Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.

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